The Japanese company said there had been no reports of accidents, injuries or fatalities linked to the issues from anywhere in the world, but it was recalling the 35,124 UK-registered vehicles in line with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) code of practice.

In some RAV4 and Hilux models, Toyota said there was a risk that the driver's airbag may be deactivated because turning the steering wheel could damage certain circuits, causing the airbag warning light on the instrument panel to illuminate.

The fault is in 24,785 models manufactured between June 2004 and December 2010.

In some Toyota Yaris and Urban Cruiser models a spring mechanism locking the driver and, in three-door cars, the front passenger seats in position on the adjustment rails may be under-strength and could break if seats are frequently moved back and forwards.

If the spring breaks, seats may not lock in position and could move in a crash, Toyota said.

Some 10,339 vehicles built between January 2005 and August 2010 are affected.

In the same models, a weld connecting the steering column bracket to the instrument panel might break when the steering wheel is repeatedly turned with full force, which could cause the steering column to tilt out of position. Drivers would not lose control of their vehicle.

Share article

Vehicles being recalled are 1,293 second generation Yaris cars with tilt/telescopic steering wheel adjustment and Urban Cruiser models built between September 2005 to February 2009.

Toyota said customers would have their cars inspected and repaired free and urged people to check if their vehicle was affected by looking up its registration on the company website, www.toyota.co.uk.

Ipsoregulated

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standardards Organisations's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a compaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here